Wednesday, September 5, 2012

First Day & Instagram Goodness

Whew...is it Friday yet? It's only Wednesday night and it feels like I've already lived through a full week even with a holiday built in.

It's our first week back to school but nothing is "normal" yet. We've had late starts, orientation, half days, escorts to and from, and lunch at home. The kids had their first days on separate days which meant I had to go through dressing, backpack packing and photo sessions twice. Tomorrow they both start at 8:00 and end at 11:30...in buildings across the street from each other. Pick up and drop off should be interesting. Who do I do first?!

Monday will be the first day of our regular routine and I, for one, will be sighing a huge sigh of relief. Lucy will be at preschool two mornings a week and William will be in full day kindergarten every day.

I think I might be the only parent on the face of the planet who has no upset feelings about sending my child to kindergarten. Yes, I still get teary-eyed when I see him in his uniform and backpack and when he gives me a hug goodbye. But not because I wish he were at home instead. It's the good kind of cry. He's so grown up! I'm so proud! He's so excited! He can do it all on his own now!

And maybe a tiny part of me is crying happy tears because now I don't have to try to entertain him all day.

I'm not going to lie. The kid exhausts me. With a three-year-old, an infant and a growing belly, I can't give him all he requires. He needs school more than words can describe. He needs peers around him at all times. He needs an authority figure who he doesn't also call mom. He needs a place to go outside the house every day. This model isn't built for every child but my child was definitely built for this model.

And now for the obligatory first-day-of-school pictures courtesy of Instagram. And some others thrown in for good measure. (I'm mamanash75 if you're there.)